Extensible car-step.



W. HAIVIM (KI A. HOTALING.

EXTENSIBLE CAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-19.1915.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

Q MN W. HAMM (KL A. HOTALING.

EXTENSIBLE CAR STEP.

APPLICATlON FILED JAN-19,1915.

1,172,987.. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Tia El; if

nrrc- EXTENSIBLE GAR-STEP.

Application filed January 19, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, lVnsLnY I-TAMM and ALANSON Ho'rALmo, citizens of the United States, residing at Philmont, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Car-Steps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an extensible step designed for attachment to the relatively fixed steps of a railway passenger car.

The invention has for its object to provide an extensible step for cars including an operating crank arm for moving the step to extended position and carrying a weight at its free end so arranged as to counterbalance the weight of the extensible step and retain the latter in elevated or inoperative position.

Another object is the provision of an extensible step of the character described in which the operating crank arm is so arranged that when the step is moved to extended position the weighted end of the crank arm is so disposed as to retain the step extended.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of the extensible step operatively associated with the relatively fixed steps carried by the platform of a railway car. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation, showing the step in extended position. Fig. 4 represents a vertical central sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. F ig. 5 represents a fragmental detail sectional View, partly broken away, illustrating the manner of supporting the extensible step and limiting the downward movement thereof, and Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail sectional View on the line e c of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 7 indicates the relatively fixed steps ordinarily provided Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 3,098.

upon street and other passenger railway cars, which are secured between the side members 9. A pair of side plates 10 are secured to the outer surfaces of the side members 9 and are provided with inwardly directed flanges 11 disposed in spaced relatlon to the inner or rear edges of the side members 9, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. Strips 12 are suitably secured to the rear edges of the side members 9 and are formed with angularly and forwardly projecting flanges 13 disposed in spaced relation to the plates 10. The supporting rods or bars 14 are slidably mounted beneath the flange 11 and between the plate 10 and the flange 13 and the lower extremities 15 thereof are directed horizontally and secured to the extensible step 16. The step 16 is adapted to be moved from elevated or inoperative position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to the extended or operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the bars or rods 1.4 sliding in the plate 10 and strips 12. The downward movement-of the extensible step 16 relative to the lowermost fixed step 7 is limited by the lugs or abutments 17 secured to the rear surfaces of the supporting rods 14, and which engage the laterally enlarged lower portions 18 of the flanges 11.

The upper extremities of the supporting rods 14 are twisted and apertured to provide a pair of parallel cars 19 receiving bolts 20. A pair of straps 21 are pivotally secured at their upper extremities to the bolts 20 and the lower extremities thereof are curved inwardly and secured upon opposite sides of a bearing member 22. A pair of shaft supports or hearing members 23 are secured to and extend rearwardly of the side plates 10 and rotatably support a shaft 24 in their rear extremities. The shaft 24 is secured against longitudinal movement in the brackets or bearing members 23 by adjustable stop collars 25 secured thereon, and a crank 26 is formed centrally of the shaft and is journaled in the bearing members 22. A crank arm 27 is rigidly secured to one end of the shaft 24 and carries a substantially spherical weight 28 at its free end constituting a handle whereby the step 16 is moved from one position to the other. The crank arm 27 is so arranged upon the shaft 24 that, when the step 16, is in elevated position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the weight 28 counterbalances the Weight of the step 16 and retains the latter in elevated position, and when the step is extended, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the weight 28 is so disposed, with relation to the shaft 24 as to retain the step in extended position.

extensible step, supporting means for said extensible step slidably secured to said side members, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said supporting means with said rotatable shaft, an operating crank arm carried by said shaft and arranged laterally of said side members and a weight connected with said crank arm for retaining said extensible step in elevated or downwardly extended position.

2. In combination, a pair of side members, steps secured between said side members, an extensible step, slide rods secured to said extensible step, flanged plates carried by said side members and slidably securing said rods,

a rotatable shaft supported in said side members and including a crank arranged centrally between said slide rods, a pair of straps pivotally secured at their up er ends to the upper extremities of said slide rods and having downwardly converging lower .ends, means pivotally connecting the lower 35 extremities of said straps with said crank, and an operating crank arm carried bysaid shaft.

3. In combination, a pair of side members, steps secured between said side members, an 4 extensible step, slide rods secured to said extensible step, plates carried by said side members, flanges formed upon said plates partially inclosing and slidably securing said slide rods, the lower extremities of the flanges of certain of said platesbeing en'- larged to provide shoulders, stop lugs carried by said slide rods adapted to engage the shoulders to limit the downward movement of said extensible step, a rotatable shaft in- 5 eluding a crank, means pivotally connecting said crank with the upper extremities of said slide rods, and an operating crank arm carried by said shaft.

in testimony whereof we aflix our signatures 1n presence of two wltnesses.

Witnesses:

EUGENE GARDNER, EDGAR P. SHULT,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. 0. 

